Fountain comb



FOUNTAIN COMB illlliiiilllll 39 C. E; NEAL ET AL Filed June 19, 1951 Aug. 19, 1952 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented Aug. 19, 1952 FOUNTAIN COMB Claude E. Neal, Durham, and Edward H. McCain, Raleigh, N. C.

Application June 19, 1951, Serial No..232,354

3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to fountain combs and more particularly to an improvement in a fountain comb of the character disclosed in our United States Patent No.'2,554,866, patented May 2 1951, for Fountain Comb.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved fountain comb having a liquid reservoir therein and manually operated means for dispensing liquid from the reservoir to the teeth of the comb which is leakproof and dispenses the liquid at a metered rate to the comb teeth under manual control; and which is of simplified construction, economical to manufacture, easy to operate, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a fountain comb illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the comb illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 3, but showing the parts in a different operative position from that shown in Figure 3.

With continued reference to the drawing, the comb comprises an integral body of suitable material, such as a synthetic resin plastic or a synthetic rubber material and is preferably transparent. The body comprises a hollow comb back l providing interiorly thereof a reservoir chamber ll extending longitudinally of the back substantially from one end thereof to the other, and comb teeth projecting from one edge of the back and spaced apart longitudinally of the latter, the teeth, as illustrated, being divided into two contiguous series including a series of fine teeth In and a series of coarse teeth 121).

A hollow, externally screw threaded boss 13 is .provided on one end of the back [0 in communication with the reservoir chamber H at the corresponding end of the latter to provide a filler neck for the chamber and a screw cap I4 is threaded onto this boss. A suitable gasket I is disposed within the cap l4 and bears against the outer end of the boss l3 when the cap is threaded onto the boss to provide a fluid tight seal between the cap and the boss.

The comb back is provided in the portion 16 thereof between the reservoir chamber II and the teeth 12 with a recess ll opening to the reservoir chamber and having a counterbore IS in its end adjacent the chamber. A header channel I9 is provided in the comb back portion [6 at the end of the recess l! remote from the chamber I l and extends substantially equal distances to opposite sides of the recess. Branch channels, as indicated at 20, 2| and 22, connect the header channel [9 with the spaces between certain adjacent comb teeth, these branch channels being preferably disposed one at each end, and one at the mid-length location of the header channel.

An opening 23 is provided in the portion 24 of the comb back remote from the comb teeth which opening is in alignment with the recess [1 transversely or the comb back and a packing assembly, generally indicated at 25, is secured in this opening.

The packing assembly, as illustrated, comprises a hollow cylindrical casing 26 formed of a suitable rigid material, preferably a. synthetic resin plastic material, and having an inwardly directed annular flange at each end, packing washers 21 and 28 disposed in the casing and located one at each end thereof and a spacer bushing 29 disposed in the casing between the packing washers 21 and 28 and applying a compressive force to the washers. The packing washers are preferably formed of a suitable resilient material, such as a resilient synthetic rubber and the spacer bushing 29 is preferably formed of a rigid material, such as 'a suitable synthetic resin plastic.

A valve seat element 30 in the form of a washer of suitable resilient material is mounted in the counterbore is of the recess l1 and retained therein (by a retaining ledg 3| formed in the end of the counterbore adjacent the reservoir chamber I l.

A valve stem 32 extends slidably through the packing assembly 25 and has a pointed end 33 cooperating with the valv seat washer 30 to control the flow of liquid from the reservoir chamber II through the recess I! to the channels I9, 20, 2! and 22. A knob 34 is secured on the other end of this valve stem at the outer side of the portion 24 of the comb back for sliding the stem back and forth through the packing assembly into and out of valve closing association with the valve seat washer 30. An annular stop 35 is provided on the valve stem 32 intermediate the length thereof and this stop engages the inner end of the packing assembly 25 to limitmovement of the valve stem outwardlyofthe comb back.

' tubular and includes a bore 36. Ports 3? and 38 extend from this bore t the exterior of the valve stem, the port 37 .being located at the sid of the stop 35 remote from the knob 34 and the port 38 being spaced from the port 3 toward the knob carrying end of the stem at distance slightly greater thanfthelength of the packing assembly 25, so that the port '38 will be disposed beyond the outer end of the packing assembly when the stem is moved to its limitin position outwardly of the comb back, the ports 31 and 38 and the bore 36 then providing a replacement air inlet vent to permit air to enter the reservoir chamber II and replace liquids dispensed from the chamber through the recess I? and the associated channels to the comb teeth.

A baffle 39 extends transversely of the chamber II at the side of the valve stem 32 remote from the adjacent end of the chamber and is joined to the portion of the comb back adjacent the comb teeth to provide between itself and the adjacent end of the chamber an auxiliary chamber in which liquids may be retained to a sufficient depth for efiicient dispensing thereof to the comb teeth as the supply of liquid in the reservoir chamber is depleted.

While only one dispensing assembly is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and hereinabove described, it is to be understood that two or more such assemblies may be provided at spaced apart locations along the comb back, if desired. Also, while the dispensing assembly is shown as connected with three intertooth spaces, it is to be understood that this number may be decreased or increased, as may be desired, without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

It will be noted that the fountain comb hereinabove described and illustrated in the accompanying drawingisleakproof and that .it dispenses the liquid from the reservoir at a metered rate depending upon the size of the ports or orifices 3'1 and 38. These ports may be highly restricted, since they are restricted to flow of air rather than a hairdressing liquid and do not readily become clogged or obstructed. The duration of the dispensing period is also manually controlled'by operationof the knob 3 to open or close the dispensing valve.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the therein.

What is claimed is a I 7 1. A fountain comb comprising a hollow back providing a liquidireservoir chamber therein, a series of comb teeth projecting from one edge of said back and spaced apart longitudinally of the latter, a hollow boss on one end of said back providing a filler neck for said reservoir chainber, said back having in the portion thereof between .saidreservoir chamber and said teeth a recess opening to said chamber and channels leading from the end. ofv said recess remote from claims are, therefore intended to be embraced said chamber to the spaces between certain of said teeth and having an" opening in the portion 4 thereof remote from said teeth, said opening being in alignment with said recess transversely of said back, a packing assembly mounted in said opening, a valve seat element disposed in said recess, a valve stem extending slidably through said packing assembly and cooperating at one end with said valve seat element to control the flow of liquid from said reservoir chamber to said channels, a knob on the other end of said valve stem for manually sliding the latter through said packing assembly, and a stop on said valve stem engageable with the inner end of said packing assembly to limit movement of said stem outwardly of said comb back, said stem having a tubular portion extending from said stop to said other end thereof and ports extending from the bore of said tubular portion to the exterior of said stem one adjacent said stop and one spaced from said stop toward said other end of the stem a distance greater than the length of said packing assembly to provide a replacement air admitting vent for said reservoir chamber when said stem is moved to .its limiting position outwardly of said back.

2. A fountain comb comprising a hollow back providing a liquid reservoir chamber therein, a series of comb teeth projecting from one edge of said back and spaced apart'longitudinally of the latter, a'hollow bosson one end of said back providing a filler neck .for said reservoir chamher, said back having in the portion thereof between said reservoir chamber and said teeth a recess opening to said chamber and channels leading from the end of said recess remote from said chamber to the spaces between certain of said teeth and having an opening in the portion thereof remote from said teeth, said opening being in alignment with said recess transversely of said back, a packing assembly mounted in said opening, a valve seat element disposed in said recess, a valve .stem extending slidably through said packing assembly and cooperating at one end withsaid valve seat element to control the fiow of liquid from said reservoir.chamber to said channels, a knob on the other .end of said valve stem for manually sliding the latter through said packing assembly, a stop on said valve stem engageable with the inner end of said packing assembly to limit movement of said stemoutwardly of said comb back, said stem having a tubular portion extending from said stop to said other end thereof and portsextending from the bore of .said tubular portion to the exterior of said stem one adjacent-said, stop and one spaced from said stop toward said other end of the stema distance greater than the length of said packing assembly, to provide a replacement air admittingvent for said reservoir chamber when'said stem is moved to its limiting position outwardly of said back, and a vbaiile extending transversely of said reservoir chamber adjacent said valve stem. to provide an auxiliary chamber in said reservoirchamber.

3. A fountaincomb comprising a hollow back providing a liquid reservoir chamberith'erein, a

series of CQmb teeth projecting from one edge of said back and spaced apart longitudinally of the latter, said back having a recess in the portion thereof'between said reservoir chamber and :said teeth .and channels leading from said recess to the spaces between certain of said teeth and having an opening in the portion theredfremote from said teeth and in alignment with saidlre cess, packing means secured in said opening,

: valve seat means secured in said recess, a valve stem extending slidably through said packing REFERENCES CITED means and cooperating with said seat The following references are of record in the means to control the flow of liquid from said resfile of this patent:

ervoir chamber to said channels, said stem being manually movable between limiting positions in- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS wardly and outwardly of said back and including Number Name Date means providing an air vent from the exterior of 1,071,063 Lee Aug. 26, 1913 said back to said chamber when in its limiting 2,164,442 Bankston July 4, 1939 position outwardly of said back. 2,554,866 McCain et a1. May 29, 1951 10 FOREIGN PATENTS CLAUDE E. NEAL. EDWARD MCCAIN Number Country Date 175,164 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1922 

